Capuchin convent Wattwil

Kloster St. Maria der Engel in Wattwil, listed here as "Capuchin convent Wattwil", sits near Ulisbach in the municipality of Wattwil, in the Toggenburg region of the canton of St. Gallen. It began as a house of Capuchin nuns rather than friars, and the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland calls it the best-preserved enclosed convent complex in the canton.

What is this convent?

Its roots go back to the late 13th century, when hermit men and women settled around Wattwil. The sisters lived in a cell on the Hünersedel hill, the brothers in a hermitage on the Pfanneregg. The sisters' house is first recorded in 1411, when the abbot of St. Gallen granted them the plot for their buildings as a fief. They followed the Franciscan Third Order rule until 1591, when the community became Capuchin.

How did it end up at its present site?

A fire destroyed the Pfanneregg convent in 1620. The sisters built the new convent the following year, and it still stands, under the protection of Iberg Castle. Strict enclosure was introduced in 1726 and perpetual adoration in 1771. Since 1847 the convent has been under the supervision of the Bishop of St. Gallen. Earlier, in 1525, a group of sisters converted to the Reformation, among them two biological sisters of Huldrych Zwingli.

What will you see?

A complex dating from 1621 with a high-baroque convent church. It appears in the Swiss inventory of cultural property and in the St. Gallen cantonal heritage records as a convent of 1620-21, successor to Pfanneregg. Interior restoration took place in the 1980s. A farm with a shop and a café operates on the grounds, and the Wikivoyage entry names the resident community as Fazenda da Esperança.

How do you get there?

The convent lies at roughly 47.30° N, 9.08° E on the edge of Wattwil. The town has rail links toward St. Gallen and Zurich, and you cover the last stretch on foot or by car. Check fazenda.ch for current opening times of the shop, café and visits.

When should you visit?

Toggenburg is most pleasant from late spring to autumn, when the weather suits walks across the surrounding hills. The convent pairs well with a visit to Iberg Castle, which sheltered the sisters for centuries, and with Wattwil's old centre.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a Capuchin friars' monastery? No. Historically Capuchin nuns lived here. "Kapuzinerkloster" is sometimes used loosely, but the proper name is Kloster St. Maria der Engel.

When was the current building constructed? In 1621, a year after the fire at the earlier Pfanneregg convent.

Can you enter the church? The church is high baroque. Access rules change, so ask the community through the contact on fazenda.ch.

Is there a café? Yes, a farm café and a farm shop operate at the convent.